Fireproof safe construction



April 17, 1928.

1,666,486 G. c. BRAINARD ET Ax.

FIREPROOF SAFE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2l, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 r o m* o o ,o o o G, \1 O f N/ N/ 8 a dz s? Q a i? w E el o N /N o o 3 o of o 9 oI 9 `-o G. C. BRAINARD ET AL FIREPROOF SAFE CONSTRUCTION April 17A, 1928.

Filed Jan. 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gfa,

Gwenn April 17, 1928.

G. C. BRAINARD ET AL FIREPROOF SAFE CQNSTRUCTION 5 Smeets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1924 H @E o. Ac. Bea/YHRD ./so/v 19. FITCH 51e/c Wolff/E fluo: eq

Patented pr. 17, 1928.

Unirse STATES 'PATENT ori-"ics GEORGE C. BRAIN'ARD, JASON A. FITCH, AND ERIC E. OLTERS,v OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGN ORS T0 THE GENERAL FIREPROOFING COMPANY, 0F YOUNGSTOWN,

OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FIREPROOF SAFE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial No. 687,630.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-proof Safe construction, having chiefly in view effecting economies in time and cost of manufacture, as Well as providing an 1mproved structure having inherent 'strength and lire-resisting capacity, and generally responding to Fire Underwriters requirements.

To that end, the invention contem lates a reduction in the number of parts an operations employed in fabricating a safe structure, thereby permitting of a maximum production in ai minimum amount of time, and also requiring the stocking of only a minimum number of parts; thus conserving space and obviating the handling of bulky and un- Wieldy part-ly assembled safe structures.

Another important'object of the invention is to so construct thel door part of thesafe as to permit the contemporaneous drying thereof with the safe body, and in a manner that will assure'thefeli'minatin `of all free water and moisture before the fga'cing or finishing plates are itted thereto thus eliminating the possibledevelopment of rust, asv in some safe constructions heretofore made. Therefore, it is proposed by the present invention to construct the doors of the safe in such a manner that the drying period therefor is equivalent to the drying period for the body and back thereby making it possible to time the drying operations of the body and its back, and the doors, so that the same may be carried out contemporaneously thereby permitting each safe to be put through the drying oven as a complete unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide asimple and practical means for mal;- ing the door frame and the back panel in such a way that these members are held together under tension by suitable ties, such as rods, which together constitute a. cage for reinforcing the insulation shell. With this construction it is possible to tighten the back to the body or shell uniformly at all points, and at the sanie time permit the tension members tobe embedded within the insulation shell in such a Way as to afford maximum protection from heat. Also by reason of the manner in which the tension members are connected with the door frame and structural element of the back panel, there will be no tendency for the tension members or rods topnsh or pry the back panel away from its seat on the insulation shell in event thatf-sufficient heat should be conducted thereto'l to thereby cause their elongation. That-A feat-ure is, in part, provided'for during the tion is to assemble and locate the built-up reinforcing cage of the body in such a way, that expanded metal or like-reinforcement ma be anchored or attached thereto-so as'to deliynitely locate such reinforcementand produce known reinforcing result'sin the insulation body. f Y

A still further object-of the inventionis to provide an improved door construction which utilizes a rect-angular frame open at' both sides so as to receivethe insulation material, and thereby leave relatively large areas at both sides of the door exposed-:for drying purposes. In that connection the invention contemplates the use of removable front and back plates'for thedooi" which may be putin position after the insulation has been molded and coated with a surface of water-proof paint, the latter being employed'tdprevent absorption of atmospheric moisture by the insulation, thereby eliminating the possibility of rust at'the inside of the metallic portions of the door.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention'- is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical 'embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View of a. `safe constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the primary structural element of the door frame.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view take on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure l.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view showing more clearly the manof placing the tension ms and their' eenmanner in which the tension rods constitue ing the skeleton cage for the' bodyni'aybe fitted to the door frame.

Fig. 9 is a detail View' illustrating the` mannerjotassenibling a safe door.

.- Similar grefereiice A characters designate eonrespondiiigparts throughout the several figures; ofg the dra`\'\ings.

ith@ view tosimplifying and expeditingii-the-. inainitactu-re of safes of' the type previously referred to, and yet. combining allzof the; structural features and advan- .tages o lfsafeo that type with the addi- Ytional adyantages obtained-from the presentqinyientiomsitiis desirable to A make the E ,inforcingcageof,the body inisuch a way -thaftgitisnotnecessary for .the saineto he .c ar'rie'd.,byy .the door frame during. the preliminary stages of manufacture.

v' l `l iat' is Etosay, the'door trame A' must he subjected-tor certain' finishing operations prior-fte the., pouring o f the insulation mateixiaflftosforin the insulation shell, and therefore iii-'order toavoid the necessity of haiidling, aA bulky construction.l consisting: of

' fthe'4 door f-iameA andtheslieletoii cage B,

Wliichfn'ot only occupies considerable Hoor space as Well as 'space within the ovens, it is ipdposedtdmake the skeleton cage B in such a-way'ithat it may be built up from a plurality oteiisionvvmen'ibers, ties; or rods 1 'o'if theirequiy'alent, which may bere-addy i ntelocked ,with the 'door -frunie A aller the-doorfranies have been Finished and set up as the bottom of the mold for the. body.`

Wheiifthe door frame A and' skeletonV cage Bconsis'ting oi' t-lie inter-locked tension rods 1 and-,other` reinforcements have been assembled-within `the mold, and other reinforcementlocated as shown the insulation shell may be poured to foi-in the sale body, and the pre-formed back section C may then be placed upon the body and secured thereto by'the tension rods in such a way as to evenly and uniformly7 cla.ip t-lie back panel in place.

As will-later appear the doorsD or" the safe, are made in a novel manner to facil-itate handling and drying so that they may be made contemporaiieously with the body of" the safe instead of requiringr a longer period of drying as heretofore,thus obviating-the necessity of holding-up the completion of a number 'of safe' bodies due tothe delay in completing the doors The door frame A is constructed to iiiclude af primary structural element E which is provided with a countersunk channel F me iaa'vateiiiiiaaiiyf n'liosebottom wall is formed with the key hole" slotsj2 or their equivalentsfor receiv ing the heads 3 of the tension rods. Also, as shown in Figure 2 the bottom of the channel F may-'be provideelrfwith the openi 1`l 'are detac'ha'lililiterloclred with the structural .elementE it possible to malieithe deoifgffme's' in aiiyees-imaginaria; and stack tlien'i as indicated-in Figurewif4 Ih that tay they occupy'spazc'e oni-the' Hoor It willi therefore, apparent'tha'tby time the number offfpafts exist-init nei/nie cage l is grea.tly 'fl's'of arrange'- inerit doesawayfniitlr a .multiplicity of; ve'ldmember E bylittingtlielieads 3 o fithe tension rods in thje 1rey .=h'o l e slots 2 Withthe threaded endsl :of the frods= projectingahove the plaiie'of the "Seat .Which .to oined inthe insulationbodyrtorreoeiyefthe back panel C. ''Vli'enf tlie'i-od s ai' elt .l ius assembled a reticulated reinforcing fabric- .lsucli as es.s pandedmetal or other. Wireinesli may be .interwoven with or .attached to. the rods and thus be definitely located. The ceinentitious insulation body or shell G. may. then be poured to formA the body, amd this construction, after sett-ing, is placed'in an oven and subjected to a drying heat for the required period.z I -7 The effect of such baking isto heat upthe cementit'ious material asf. Well as the tension rods l, aiidby reason of the expansion of the rods 1 their diametery will be increased rods l maybeinterlookdvrvith the v(str'iictural while in the oven. T hatV is to say, the ins-ulaheating in' excess of rod expansion causing a small amount of loosening. Therefore, when the completed body is removed from the oven and allowed to cool the rods 1 will contractA thereby .leaving a well defined channel or space 5 entirely about the rods in such away that there is no adhesion between the rod and the insulation body or shell G. That feature insures freedom of expansion or elongation of the rod in event that the 'same is subjected to heat by conduction during a fire and permits the movement of the rod to go on freely and unhindered without damage.

A In connection with the formation of the skeleton -cage B by the tension rods 1 another distinctive feature of the invention exists, namely that of providing an anchoring means Ifor expanded metal or other suitable mesh reinforcement R. As shown in Figure 5 such reinforcement may be placed around and about both `the inside and outside of the rodsj'l Where it may be held by suitable clipsfor' other ties. The positioning of such reinforcement not only strengthens the insulation shell, but permits of locating the inn'er sheet ofsuch reinforcementin such a wayas to include one of the ribs which constitute n portion of the seat for the back "a'nel. y Y j 4The back panel C includes in its organiza- -tion a structural element C of the same general type as ythe element E, except that insteadiof key-slots,ithe said member C is provided 'with openings 6 for receiving the threaded ends 4 of the tension rods so that the said rods may receive the clamping nuts 7 vvitliin'thel countersunk or depressedchannel,4 portion of the said lmember C. Also the insulation of the back provides denite clearance in insulation for the tension rods. As will be observed from Figures 3, 4 and 5 the structural element C of the back panel may bc equipped with suitable clips 8 or their equivalent for permitting the expanded metal R for the back panel to be conveniently anchored in place. In connection with said reinforcement it may be observed that the same may be used in two layers having the mesh thereof running criss-cross while one of the pieces of expanded metal may be turned into one of the dovetail ribs on the back panel.

During the pouring of the shell G and the vmaking of the back panel C, the same will be formed with the complemental tongue and groove members 9 and 10 which form a seat S for the back panel. This seat is adapted to receive a suitable plastic adhesive or fire-proof cement so that when the back panel C is laid on the seat, and clamped to the shell by the tension rods and nuts, the adhesive material is uniformly forced throughout the joint, thereby firmly uniting the back and the shell and sealing the joint in a tire-proof manner. It is apparent that the provision of the tension bolts and nuts makes it possible to uniformly distribute the clamping pressure between the back and the shell over the entire area of the back and the body, thereby insuring maximum rigidity and effecting the locking of the back to the primary structural'elein'ent E of the door frame A in a simple.4 practical and expeditious manner. Also, by reason of the fact that tension rods and other reinforcement 1 are 'encased and adequately housed and protected by theinsulation, they are protected to a maximum extent from the absorption of heat by conduction. However, if under the intensity of'a fire the rods 1 should elongate it will be apparent from Figure 5 that such elongation may readily'take place due to the fact that the rods are free from the insulation and expansion longitudinally will simply lift the nut 7 from ,its position on the 'bottom of thev channel and structural member C Without in any wayimposing aprying off or' pushing strain onthe back panel.

The insulation'body B is, 4as-previously indicated, surrounded bythe'metallicshell G which includes the sideplates G interlocking at their forward edgeswith a partof the door'frame and engaged at their rear edges by the plate G? of the 'back section. Themside-of the shell is formed by the inner 'side wall plates-G3,'the back wall plate G,and the top and bottom plates G5 and Gs, all of whichv are interlocked in such away as to provide tight jointsat the'cornersand seams Referring to Figure `9 which illustrates one ofthe doors D it will 'be observed that it is proposed to construct the same in accordance with the present invention'in such a way that only the side frames 11 are made prior to the operation of` pouring the insulation material within the same as a part of the mold. As shown in Figures 3 and 9 the doors are provided with the stiffening members 12 which may be perforated as indicated at 13 and are attached to the hinge port-ion H of the. side frames 11 as indicated at 14. a spacing Washer 15 being employed to separate the attaching edge of 'the stiffening member from the inner face of the hinge molding.

As will be observed from Figure 9 ythe door frame 11 is left open at both sides prior to pouring the insulation material, and that feature permits of adequately painting all of the inner surfaces of the door molding. WV hen the door frame is ready to receive a plastic composition the same is laid on a mold or its equivalent 16 and suitable meshreinforcement 17 placed therein` and the insulating material 18 poured. After the poured insulation/has received its initial set and is ready for the oven, it will be apparent that a relatively7 extended drying area for the door is provided. In other words the exposed drying area' or surface of the cementitious material 18 is greatly enlarged in proportion to the volume ot such material, thereby making it possible to complete the drying of a door of this type in from eight to eighteen days, whereas a door having only one' side exposed for drying heretofore requiredjfrom eighteen to twenty-four days for, drying.

.After the door has been oven-dried the surfaces20 thereof may be provided with a coa-ting of water-proof paint P, such paint forming a moisture proof envelope which prevents absorption ot water from atmospheric air.

'Vhen the door has thus been dried and painted it is ready t0 receive the front or facing sheet. 2l shown in Figure 6 and the backv sheet 22. The said front sheet has its side ,edges 23 and front edge 24 provided wit-lr suitable anchoring flanges whereby it maybe slid towardthe hinge edge H of the door while the back edge of said facing sheet 2'1f1isprovided-with an ofset portion 25 and slots- 26l whereby said offset portion may fit beneath the hinge molding of the door, and also straddle the washers 15. The back sheet 22 may be provided with the flange 26 for engagingf with the anchor member 27 as shown in Figure 5 while the top and bottom yedges thereof may respectively be provided with thel locking flanges 28 as shown in Figure 4.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that oneof the novel and distinctive features ofthe present invention isthe manner in which the tension rods 1 constituting the cage B are attached to the primary structural element E of the door frame after the latter has been finished and set up as a part of the mold. That feature eliminates the necessity' of carrying a large unwieldy body frametl'irough the shop with the consequent elimination of much labor and care in handling, while at the same time permitting the expanded metal lath reinforcement to be definitely attached to the tension rods by looping and twisting a piece of Wire about the lath and wire to hold the lath in place if desired to produce predetermined results so far as strengthening the insulating shell is concerned. i

Another outstanding feature of the improvement resides in the manner of fabricating tbe door so as to make the time schedule ot' its completion substantially equal to that of the body` while at the same time the use of removable or separate back panels permits finishingr after th insulation is dried instead of before and insures uniform painting as to color while at the same time eliminating considerable re-handling and finishing.

lVe claim an insulating monolithic body open at the front and rear, a door frame fitting the body at its rontside, a yseparate back panel of insulating material and including af fastening anchoring element embedded therein, said back panel being fitted to the rear side of the body, and rods engaging the door fix-'ame and fastening anchoringelement of the back panel'todraw theV same together.l

2. fAtire-pro'of safe construction includingavhollow monolithic body oflinsulating material and a back ,panel also of insulating material fitted t-o one side ofthe body, anchoring elements of channel cross-section associated respectivelywith the doorway lof the hollow monolithic body and also with the back panel and having the bottoms thereof countersunk, and clamping rods gtor carrying, means for engaging the countersunk bottoms' ofv the fastening/'anchoring elements toholcb'the. back panel and body together.

3; A fire-proof safe construction,including a hollow monolithic body of insulating material and a back paneLalso of. insulating material fitted-to one siderofv the body, fastening .anchoring elements associated with the doorway of the holloW-mQn0litbic body, and also with the back paneLfsaid-elements having countersunk portions, fand fastening members extending through the Walls of the hollow monolithic body and` having abutments atv their ends. bearingin the countersunk portions. ofI the fastening anchoring elernentsyvhereby expansion of said fasteningmembers will not force the back panel t fromcontact with thel body.

4. A fire-.proof safe construction including a. hollow monolithic body having a: back kpanel receiving seatat one end, alia-stelling anchoring element .at its; frontend, an` insulating back. panel adapted to it intosaid seat, an adhesive cement for uniting the back panel with the'body at the said seat,a fastening anchoringelemcnt carried by the back panel, tie means extending through the side walls of the hollow monolithic body and engaging with the fastening anchoring element ot the back panel and the fastening anchoring element of the body to unite the panel and the body under tension.

5. A fire-proof safe construction including a hollow monolithic body having a back panel receiving seat, an insulating back panel adapted to tit in said seat,an adhesive cement for securing and sealing the joint between the back panel and the body at said seat, a fastening member projecting from said seat and piercing the back panel whereby the back panel and body may be locked together in addition to the holding back of said cement.

6. A fire-proof safe'construction including a hollow monolithic body of insulating material and a back panel also-of insulating 1. A fire-proof safe construction including material fitted to one side of the body, fastening anchoring elements associated with the doorway of the hollow monolithic body and also with the back panel, the said fastening element associated with the doorway havin a plurality of ke -hole slots therein, headed fastening rods tting in said keyhole slots and also passing through said hol low monolithic body and the fastening anchoring element carried by the back panel, and means on the end of said rod projecting through the fastening anchoring element of the back panel for engaging with said ele` ment to clamp the panel and body together under tension.

7. In a safe door, an interior insulation slab, a door frame surrounding said slab, and front and back sheets for the slabs having means. for providing an expansion joint with the door frame.

8. A safe door including an interior body of insulation material, metallic moldings constituting the sides of the door fra-me, a back sheet interlocked with the moldings, and a front sheet interlocked with the front portions of the moldings and having an expansion joint connection With the edge of one of said moldings.

9. In a safe door, an insulation cast within an outer frame, said frame having rigid attachment to front and rear sheets perpendicularly to the plane of the sheets, and slipping attachment to the sheets in the plane of the sheets.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiix our signatures.

GEORGE C. BRAINARD. JASON A. FITCH. ERIC E. WOLTERS. 

